Spinning World Research

Liverpool is the point of initial accommodation for asylum seekers in the North West and currently accommodates almost 23 percent of all asylum seekers in the region (Citysafe’s Annual Plan 2013 – 2014). In 2012-­‐13 there were 153 female asylum seekers dispersed to Liverpool (source: Refugee Action). An estimated 500 asylum seeking and refugee women live in Liverpool (extrapolated from Home Office data); 61 (estimated 12 percent) were seen by Spinning World in 2012-­‐13 and 92 (estimated 18 percent) were surveyed in this research project. The North West Strategic Migration Partnership (2011) asserts that better services in mental health would mitigate the risk of destitution among asylum seekers; those destitute in Merseyside in 2011 numbered over 300.

 Spinning World clients have experienced Human Rights abuses and trauma or the impact of traumatic events that may have happened to other members of their family. Issues may be around trauma and post traumatic stress disorder, sexual violence and pregnancy torture or bereavement. Clients bring issues about living in exile such as depression, anxiety, racism and sexuality. Spinning World specialises in psychological therapies that are sensitive to differences in culture and diversity and the majority of its sessions include trained interpreters. Spinning World was funded by Comic Relief to work specifically with women over 18. A requirement of the project was to evidence the needs of women asylum-­‐seekers in Liverpool both as a rationale for the work and to enable PSS to scale the project in future. The investigative project was awarded to Cernis Limited, a small company established in 2008 with the aim of improving public services through applied research and focused action.

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